Citation

Isacsson G, Wasserman D. Arch. Suicide Res. 1999; 5(2): 113-123.

Affiliation

Isacsson, G., Department of Psychiatry, Huddinge University Hospital, M59, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We have earlier reported on medications used for overdose in 812 consecutive parasuicides. Different studies have found some kind of depression in 30-80% of parasuicides. Therefore, we then interpreted our finding that only 5% used antidepressants for overdoses as a possible indicator of underprescribing of these drugs in suicidal patients. In this study based on an extensive interview of 202 hospitalized parasuicides (69% psychiatric in-patients), we found that women used antidepressants and anxiolytics relatively more frequently for overdose (11% and 21%) than did men (3% and 8%), younger persons used more frequently analgesics (25%), and elderly more frequently hypnotics (75% in men above 75 years of age, and 57% in women above 75). interestingly, those who took antidepressants in overdose reported lower suicide intent, while those who took anxiolytics reported more depressive symptoms. It is concluded that depressive syndromes frequently includes symptoms of anxiety and that such patients should be treated with antidepressants and not with anxiolytics alone.